Schumer: Make Kelly next homeland security chief

Sen Chuck Schumer thinks New York City’s top cop would make an excellent choice as the next head of the Department of Homeland Security.
The position opened up with Friday’s announcement that Janet Napolitano, the current DHS secretary, will be leaving to become president of the University of California system.
“We need someone just as good who can fill her shoes,” said Schumer, who gives Napolitano an A+ grade for her time on the job.
In Schumer’s view, that person is Ray Kelly, commissioner of the NYPD.
“While it would be New York’s loss, Commissioner Kelly’s appointment as the head of DHS would be a boon for the entire country,” Schumer said.
Schumer notes that to run DHS, you have to know law enforcement, understand anti-terrorism efforts, and be a top-notch administrator.
“Ray Kelly has proven that he excels in all three,” says Schumer, including top-level federal manaagement experience as a head of Customs and Border patrol before taking on his current job.
Schumer wasted no time promoting the choice of Kelly for the job. He called White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough to recommend him Friday morning, shortly after the news of Napolitano’s imminent departure broke.

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Chris McKenna

Chris McKenna covers Orange County government and politics for the Times Herald-Record. He has been a reporter at the newspaper since 1999. Read Full